College Football Playoffs, as it should be (2024 edition)

As a die-hard college football fan and dedicated cord-cutter, I'm all about more playoff action. The 12-team College Football Playoff is a fantastic upgrade, but I believe we can elevate it even further!

The 12-Team Format: A Good Start

Currently, the top five conference champions automatically punch their ticket to the playoff, joined by the seven next highest-ranked teams overall. This means more teams get a shot at the title, and we get more thrilling games to stream.

But Let's Make It Even Better:

Here's my vision for maximizing the excitement and inclusivity of the College Football Playoff:

• Every Champion Deserves a Shot: Guarantee a playoff spot for every conference champion. This ensures diverse representation and prevents any deserving team from being left out in the cold.
• No More Byes, More Upsets: Let's jump right into the action! Eliminating first-round byes means every team starts on equal footing and increases the potential for thrilling upsets.

Why This Matters for Cord Cutters:

• More Games = More Choice: More playoff games equal more options for cord-cutters. We can pick and choose the matchups we want to watch and stream them on our preferred platforms.
• Streaming-Friendly: With games spread across different networks, cord-cutters have more flexibility in finding the best streaming deals and options.
• Upset Mania: An explanded playoff means more chances for upsets and Cinderella stories. Every game becomes a must-watch event.

The 2024 Playoff Picture:

Based on the final 2024 CFP rankings, here's how the first round would look with my proposed changes:

1. Oregon (Big Ten Champion)
2. Georgia (SEC Champion)
3. Boise State (Mountain West Champion)
4. Arizona State (Big 12 Champion)
5. Clemson (ACC Champion)
6. Army (American Champion)
7. Marshall (Sun Belt Champion)
8. Ohio (Mid-American Champion)
9. Jacksonville State (Conference USA Champion)
10. Oregon State (Pac-12 Champion)
11. Texas (At-large)
12. Penn State (At-large)
13. Notre Dame (At-large)
14. Ohio State (At-large)
15. Tennessee (At-large)
16. Indiana (At-large)

First-Round Showdowns (with no byes!):

(1) Oregon vs. (16) Indiana: Can the high-flying Ducks fend off a determined Indiana squad?

(2) Georgia vs. (15) Tennessee: An SEC rematch!

(3) Boise State vs. (14) Ohio State: A classic David vs. Goliath battle.

(4) Arizona State vs. (13) Notre Dame: Tradition meets a rising power in the desert.

(5) Clemson vs. (12) Penn State: Two college football giants clash in a must-see matchup.

(6) Army vs. (11) Texas: The triple-option takes on Texas firepower in a clash of styles.

(7) Marshall vs. (10) Oregon State: A chance for these underdogs to make a statement.

(8) Ohio vs. (9) Jacksonville State: They lucked up and actually had that matchup in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl, with Ohio winning, 30-27.

The Playoff We Deserve

While the 12-team format is a step in the right direction, let's keep pushing for a playoff system that truly captures the excitement and passion of college football. My Streaming Life depends on it! As cord-cutters, we deserve more access, more flexibility, and more thrilling football action.